Jake Mace
theSpaceUK were the awardee of Binge Fringe’s 2025 ‘EdFringe Grassroots Venue of the Year’, and have a stalwart history of supporting emerging creatives within a diverse and growing roster of theatre, music, storytelling, and more at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. We’ve had a look over the most recently revealed shows headed to those sparkly blue-adorned venues in the Old Town for the upcoming festival, and found some of the most intriguing and exciting stories that will be taking to the stage.
Here’s our first look at work that is platforming marginalised work at theSpaceUK in August. Edinburgh Festival Fringe will run from August 1st-25th 2025. Book tickets for these shows and more on theSpaceUK’s website.
ROADKILL – DYKEish
Image Credit: Kallum Linnie
Themes: Trans, Queer
Irish Queer production company DYKEish’s EdFringe Debut opens itself up with a defiant statement – this is a play about not getting hit by a car. DYKEish want us to know that the car incident incited by transphobic hate that central character Cosmo endures is not the focus, but it may have something to do with something – this is foremost a show about sexuality, living with your parents, working at Tesco, and the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Writer-Performer Niamh O’Farrell-Tyler is packing plenty of bold themes into their solo show, directed by Shauna-Anne Lynch, which we can’t wait to find out more about.
Catch ROADKILL at theSpace on the Mile from August 1st-9th at 19:30 (45mins). Tickets are available on theSpaceUK’s website.
Strangers and Revelations – Unshaded Arts
Image Credit: Unshaded Arts / Kenya International Theatre Festival (KITFest)
Themes: Mythology & Trauma through an African Lens
International theatre company Unshaded Arts are bringing to Edinburgh the story of Zodwa and Malcolm, two Zimbabweans in London who meet for their first date in unusual circumstances. The piece debuted at the Kenya International Theatre Festival (KITFest) late last year, and Unshaded Arts describe it as a striking and provocative exploration of relationships, mythology, and trauma through an African Lens. The show looks to be intimate and emotive, and we look forward to seeing what unfolds in the four walls of Malcom’s house.
Catch Strangers and Revelations at theSpace @ Surgeons Hall from August 1st-23rd (not the 10th or 17th) at 12:05 (50mins). Tickets are available on theSpaceUK’s website.
Tell Me Where Home Is (I’m Starting to Forget) – Michael DeBartolo
Themes: Queer, Mental Health
American Actor, Writer, and Teacher Michael DeBartolo brings what he is describing as “a journey that exposes the dark recesses of the queer mind”, exploring pop culture and nostalgia alongside a prescient enquiry into mental health and coming of age. A striking image of DeBartolo donning a gingham Dorothy dress with cigarette-in-mouth and bottle-in-hand gives us an indication of where we’re headed in this solo theatre piece, which looks to be as personally deep as it is broad.
Catch Tell Me Where Home Is (I’m Starting to Forget) at theSpace @ Surgeons Hall and theSpace @ Symposium Hall on various (but not all) dates and times from August 1st-23rd (50mins). Tickets are available on theSpaceUK’s website.
Out of Character – Prickly Ash
Themes: East Asian Voices, Sexuality, Women-Led
Prickly Ash describe the impetus for their show exploring identity and ‘fictosexuality’ as a group of overlooked, East Asian female creators project their emotions onto the imaginary, weaving intimate connections beyond the limits of the real world. This dream-like and fantastical premise exploring fanfiction, gangsters, forbidden lovers and more seems abound to intrigue.
Catch Out of Character at theSpace @ Surgeons Hall – from August 1st to 16th (not the 10th) at 11:40 (50 mins). Tickets are available on theSpaceUK’s website.
Marble Cake – Chequered Theatre Company
Themes: Race, Abandonment, Mental Health
Chequered Theatre Company are aiming to highlight mental health through the lens of two mixed race siblings reunited afters months apart. As Keisha returns to visit Kumi in their family home, issues that they have not previously explored together come to the surface for the first time, in what creators Olivia and Nathan describe as an ‘intimate and difficult moment’. The show offers up a unique perspective arriving at Edinburgh Fringe after previews at Bromley’s Churchill Theatre.
Catch Marble Cake at theSpace on the Mile from August 1st to 9th at 14:15 (55 mins). Tickets are available on theSpaceUK’s website.
Elisabeth Flett
